Band: Flatfoot 56
Album Title: Black Thorn
Label: People Like You Records                     
Distributor: People Like You Records - EMI
Release Date: 14/02/2011
Release: CD Digipack - Digital Download

Folkpunk in the veins of Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly, that’s Flatfoot 56. In the USA ‘Black Thorn’ was actually already released last year on St. Patrick’s day, but for some reason, we had to wait until February this year. The album has a very strong intro which sweeps you immediately of your feet, into the vibe of the record. There’s a good variation between fast (folk) punk songs (“Smoke Blower”, “Stampede”), catchy and inciting dancetracks (“Way Of The Sun”, “Courage” or title track “Black Thorn”) and more sensitive and emotionally loaded tunes (“You Won Me Over” or the acoustic ballad “Shiny Eyes”). Although I previously compared Flatfoot 56 with established bands in the genre, I must say that they sound less predictable than those bands. They do use banjos and bagpipes, only they restrain from using them on moments you would expect them to be used. Personally I’m also a big fan of the vocals of lead singer Tobin Bawinkel. His voice is raw and raspy and fits the content of the lyrics perfectly! This album is most definitely a must have for fans of the genre! 

Magaly.